Relocate before finishing PhD (during ABD?)

[mzdk04]

Hey all, I just have a quick question - hopefully this is the right forum.

 

A little background... I'll be moving to another state for PhD studies; however, I am still in a long-term relationship, so I was wondering how likely and how acceptable it would be for me to move back here after a certain amount of time in the program. At what point do you think the department/university/my advisor would allow me to relocate before completing the degree? Perhaps during the ABD (All But Dissertation) stage? Is this common, and has anyone done this before?

 

It would be really helpful to hear about your experiences and/or if you know the answer to my question. Thanks a lot!

[fuzzylogician]

Well, it probably depends on your program and your advisor/committee. You'd want to know if there is a residency requirement and what your teaching obligations will be like. You'd also need to know what your advisor thinks about students being away. I seriously doubt my advisors would like it if I'd moved away during my dissertation year, but in the past my program has supported people who have followed their spouse to a different location, and those people have successfully finished their dissertation and graduated. Personally I'd have a hard time getting work done if I were away from my advisor and my fellow students. Talking to them helps me make progress. However, others like to work alone and have less frequent meetings with their advisors, so it really depends on your situation. 

[spellbanisher]

Typically, after you have advanced to candidacy you can go live wherever you want.

[anthropologygeek]

If your not gone for research, it is very valuable to stay at the university. The success rate goes from 50/50 to only 10/90 that you will finish.

[Munashi]

I know people who have done moved away from the program while ABD and successfully completed their dissertation.  However, are you intending to enter academia after you earn your doctorate?  If so, the benefit of staying at your university is that you're much more likely to be more productive in terms of publications - which would come in handy for you down the road.  Ultimately though, it's up to you and your advisor.

[DeleteMePlease]

I think my school requires all international students to reside at the university through the whole program.

As the others said, just check with your school.

 

Personally, i would recommend doing the Ph.D. at an institution in your home country if your relationship is that important to you.

Edited April 24, 2014 by GermanStudent

[rising_star]

It really depends on your program. In my department, several people (including me) spent part of the time they were writing their dissertation elsewhere. Some did it because they got residential fellowships, others to spend more time with their partners. It really just depends on your advisor, your department, etc. The biggest factor for most is maintaining some sort of tuition waiver, which can be harder to negotiate if you don't have external funding and aren't working for the department.

[juilletmercredi]

Your advisor can't dictate to you where you live, nor can the university or the department.

However, how feasible it is for you to move when you're ABD will depend on the work and your program type.  I know a couple of people who have relocated when they were ABD, but they were all in social science or humanities fields and didn't have lab work to complete, so they could write/work from home.  In each case they were moving to be with a spouse or partner.  And even then, I get the sense that they have to return relatively often to meet with their advisor.  I personally meet with my advisor every other week, but I suppose we could Skype if I lived away, although it wouldn't be the same.

[DeleteMePlease]

Your advisor can't dictate to you where you live, nor can the university or the department.\

 

So what exactly is a "residency requirement"?